Dreadnaught-class Heavy Cruiser
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(Backup) Class 18.0
(20) Quad Tubrbolasers
(10) Turbolaser Cannons
(6) Shuttles
Design
The Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser was designed and developed by Rendili StarDrive for the Republic Judicial Forces and as flagship for Planetary Security Forces[14] at least 80 years prior to the Clone Wars and was based on the larger Mandalorian Kandosii-type dreadnaught from the time of the Mandalorian Wars. The keel of the Dreadnaught-class ran nearly 600 meters with the bow overlapping to produce a clamshell-like appearance. Each vessel had a cluster of weapons blisters spread across the hull. Unlike many contemporary warship designs, the Dreadnaught-class did not have an easily visible bridge section, opting to shelter the command decks and crew stations inside the main armored superstructure. These areas were located on the dorsal side of the bow. The forward ventral portion of the Dreadnaught-class was used as a massive cargo hold, with a docking port located at the bow of the ship. Additional cargo holds were situated towards the center of the ship, in front of the areas housing the main reactor and secondary power generators. Docking ports were also located on either side of the ship. The initial design was not focused towards carrier duty, but as the ships were upgraded and refitted, the center cargo holds were converted to hangar space, and a common complement of 12 starfighters was added to the vessel.
Original Weapon systems included twenty quad laser cannons, ten laser cannons, and ten turbolaser batteries. Standardized modifications by the Imperial navy refitted the aging ships with more powerful weapons for ship to ship duty. The capital grade Lasers were replaced by heavier weapons, better speed, and hyperdrives. Imperial Civil war era Dreadnaught-class weapons systems included 10 Turbolaser Batteries retained from the original design. 20 Quad Turbolaser cannons and 10 Turbolaser cannons replace the lighter weapons making the Dreadnaught more of a threat to heavier warships.
Deflector shield projectors were also located inside some of the blisters flanking the hull, and the primary and secondary sensor transceivers were located towards the stern of the vessel, on the dorsal and ventral sides, similar to those on CR90 corvettes. While technologically advanced at the time of its construction, the Dreadnaught-class lacked in sublight and hyperspace speeds (a Class 4 rating), suffered computer failures, and could not compete with comparable designs in terms of firepower and shielding. Between three and five Dreadnaught-class cruisers,depending on weapons configuration, could outgun one Imperial-class Star Destroyer.
History
The Dreadnaught-class Heavy Cruiser was a revolution in design. One of the largest and most powerful vessels in existance at the time of its construction, the ship was developed by Rendili StarDrive for the Republic Judicial Forces. It sported a powerful arsenal, and a crew of epic proportions that left a mark on the galaxy for years to come: in the subsequent decades the term "Dreadnaught" has come to apply to Heavy Cruisers and other vessels that are similarly extreme in their specifications
Of course, in modern times, the Dreadnaught cannot compare. The class is considered slow by comparison to modern vessels at both sublight and in hyperspace, and the weapons that gained the design such notariety are now well below the average for craft of a similar size: the Imperial-class Star Destroyer is capable of delivering nearly five times as much damage.
The class was used extensively during the Clone Wars by the Republic, and were produced in large numbers to outgun the Separatist fleet. With clones providing the bulk of the military, the large crew requirements on the ship were of little consequence, and the ships saw use in various campaigns. With the rise of the Galactic Empire the class continued to see use, until the clone forces began to dwindle, and the ship was superceeded by the various Star Destroyer classes. Efforts were made to reduce the crew requirements, and full-rig slave circuitry allowed the ship to be operated by a crew of just 2,200.
A number of these vessels were appropriated by the Rebel Alliance, and modified to become Dreadnaught-class Assault Frigates in an attempt to compensate for the various shortfallings. In addition, the Empire has begun rebuilding its own Dreadnaughts into the newclasses such as the Saint Tarkin class Heavy Cruisers.
Known Vessels
